​“Sharing Thanksgiving” to Honor Palm Beach County's Quiet Heroes With Food, Hope, and Holiday Joy

Palm Beach, Fla. - In a season defined by gratitude, the Palm Beach Ray of Hope Foundation is shining a bright light on the people who hold our community together. On Tuesday, November 25, from 4:00pm to 6:30pm, the Foundation will host its annual Sharing Thanksgiving event at the Palm Beach Midtown Fire Station, providing full Thanksgiving meals, toys, and support to nurses, nursing students, and their families from the Academy of Nursing and Health Occupations.

For many of these families, the holiday season arrives with more pressure than celebration. They are studying late into the night, working long shifts, caring for children, juggling multiple jobs, and fighting to stay afloat while preparing for careers that will save lives and serve the most vulnerable. These are the people who will one day hold a stranger’s hand in an emergency room, comfort a frightened child, and steady families on the hardest days of their lives. Yet many are struggling to meet their own basic needs.

Sharing Thanksgiving exists for them.

One hundred fifty families will receive everything needed for a full, abundant Thanksgiving meal. Turkeys or hams. Stuffing. Cranberry sauce. Fresh vegetables. Potatoes. Yams. Macaroni and cheese. Homemade bread. Each family will also receive at least two Publix gift cards worth one hundred fifty dollars each, easing the burden that so often steals the joy from the holiday season. Children will take home toys and climb aboard a fire truck, turning an afternoon into a memory that feels warm, safe, and hopeful.

“When we founded the Palm Beach Ray of Hope Foundation, our mission was simple: create meaningful, direct impact right here at home," said Janet Levy, Founder and President of the Palm Beach Ray of Hope Foundation. "Sharing Thanksgiving is a beautiful example of that mission in action. It brings together our community, supports our local healthcare heroes, and ensures that families feel seen, appreciated, and cared for.”

For nurses and nursing students, the path to a healthcare career is rewarding but unforgiving. Long clinical days. High stakes exams. Exhausting shifts. More responsibility than most people will ever understand. Many are doing all of this while raising children and living paycheck to paycheck. A holiday meal may seem small, but for these families it means one less worry and one more moment to breathe.

The Palm Beach Ray of Hope Foundation expresses its deepest appreciation to Palm Beach Fire Rescue, Bus One LLC, and the donors, volunteers, and partners who make this event possible. Their support turns generosity into action, and action into hope.

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About the Palm Beach Ray of Hope Foundation: The Palm Beach Ray of Hope Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting local nonprofits and honoring community heroes. Through partnerships, fundraising, and hands-on programs, the Foundation provides resources that create direct and lasting impact across Palm Beach County. For information or to donate, visit pbrayofhope.org or contact Sarah at sarah@pbrayofhope.org.

About the Academy of Nursing and Health Occupations The Academy of Nursing and Health Occupations is a respected nonprofit nursing school serving more than four hundred students each year. The Academy provides programs for Certified Nursing Assistants, Licensed Practical Nurses, and Registered Nurses. With over ten thousand graduates, a ninety percent first time licensing exam pass rate, and ninety nine percent job placement in the local community, the Academy continues its mission of educating compassionate, skilled healthcare professionals who strengthen Palm Beach County.